The Legend of Viral Marketing

With movies like Paranormal Activity and The Fourth kind becoming ever more popular, I thought it would be important to look back at where they may have got some of their advertising ideas.

Now, Paranormal Activity did something interesting and unique by asking fans of the trailer to request the movie be played in theaters near them. It made it seem like the movie wouldn't come if they didn't do something themselves, but that wasn't really the case.

However, the documentary style horror film isn't really new.

The first one to do something with viral marketing was the one and only, Blair Witch Project.

The movie was low budget, but became super popular. The marketing made the movie feel real by showing a trailer making the movie seem like a real live documentary and creating a website to back up the legend.

This movie didn't need Facebook or Twitter either. Well, because they didn't exist at this point.

Instead they went to message boards and spread the rumors by word of mouth themselves. It was really smart.

Nowadays, if something doesn't have a website, twitter, Facebook, and YouTube page then it's not advertising enough. So, even that isn't enough even more.

I think someone needs to come up with more interesting ways to use social media for advertising movies.

The closest thing I've found was the promotions for Pottermore that had the count down on YouTube. That was awesome because the trees and owls were all coming out of the screen. It got everyone really hyped.

So, when you see some cool advertising, make sure to do some digging to see if someone else had the idea first. It's always good to tip your hat to the original.

Twinkies. They’re Supposed to Last Forever

That's right folks. It is a sad sad day when your favorite sweet brand is closing. Not that I'm actually into Hostess all that much, but a lot of people out there are!

I'm sure you've all heard by now...but Hostess has gone bankrupt and is in the process of shutting down all its operations. Don't believe me? Just look at their website.

It's amazing how a brand that is 82 years old could just be disappearing. Maybe the higher ups should have been a little nicer to the worker bees and the other companies they were working with.

Well, it's not all bad. Though a lot of people are losing their jobs, look on the bright side, Hostess has a whole line of people just waiting to buy their assets including everything from brands such as Ding Dongs and Twinkies to baking equipment and real estate. So the snack caked will continue to live on, just under a different brand name. They shall still be known and Twinkies or Ho-hos. Rest easy sweets fans. 

Some other good news for the failing company was reported in the Los Angeles Times.

"..won approval Thursday from a federal bankruptcy judge to give as much as $1.75 million in bonuses to its executives. The money is intended as an incentive for 19 top-level managers to remain with the Twinkies and Ding Dongs maker to oversee its liquidation. The payouts will be granted only if managers "achieve a set of specific tasks and goals within a specified time frame that are designed to speed and lower the cost of the wind-down, Hostess spokesman Lance Ignon said."

Great, so the guys that you are apparently blaming for making unions angry at your company, get to keep their jobs for a while longer and get a bonus to boot. That's good news for them then.

My question is, what is the point in keeping up all the "positive" PR when your company is failing anyway? Oh, well we have plenty of buyers and everything is going dandy with shutting down our factories. Um, yeah. Because you have gone bankrupt. The only reason I can think to keep up the news is to keep buyers interested. No one wants a spoiled sweet, so make sure it's still good.

Though at this point I feel like the sweets have outgrown the overarching brand. They would probably sell weather or not Hostess itself had a good reputation, but that's just my opinion.

Anyway, if you want the snack, better stock up. The transfer and selling of all their assets could take over a year, and I don't care who says Twinkies can last forever, I am not eating year old sweet cakes. That's just gross. 

So I advise my readers to find another dessert for now, or maybe go the healthier root and eat a sweet apple!

The Susan Boyle Phenomenon

Susan Boyle. If you haven’t seen the video of this woman’s origins, then check it out here.

A woman, who people didn’t think much of at first because of her looks, amazes the crowd with her amazing voice. She puts well known and snarky judge Simon Cowell in his place with a beautiful rendition of 'I Dreamed A Dream' from Les Misérables. That audition also moved her onto the next round of Britain’s Got Talent and into the hearts of the many people who watched her sing. 

That was back in 2009. After having a slight mental break down and a makeover Susan is now somewhat of a B list celebrity. She has singing career and performs around the world. She also recently has set to put out her own album.

However, her B list status does not protect her from grade A twitter failure. Even Susan Boyle needs a PR crew, and hers must have been asleep at the wheel when they let her tweet this lovely number. 

 Ah, the power of caps lock. What was supposed to be an album party quickly changed into something very different. They tried to fix it, they really did, but the damage was already done.

That's the danger of using social media. Every single tiny bit of information you put on there is then instantaneously available to the whole world. And most of the time there is no taking it back. 

This critical error found Boyle once again the target of ridicule. Hopefully it will last only as long as it takes for her to perform again, and her amazing voice can make people forget about her mistake. 

Also, maybe her PR team will look more closely at their hash tags next time. Well, lesson learned I suppose. 

Don't just look before you tweet readers, also look before you has tag.

#CyouLater

The Hot Mess Express

Now for all those tuning in who don’t know what a “hot mess “is, Urban Dictionary defines it as: A person, who is a handful, he/she is a piece of work, and or a colorful character….

Well, that definition is surprisingly on the nice side.

Why am I teaching you slang? Well, because this post will be talking about one Hot Mess in the form of Lindsey Lohan. Let's just take a look back at some of her wonderful decisions courtesy of the Examiner.

• May 26, 2007: Arrested for first DUI. Reinters rehab at Promises Treatment Center facility for a 45 day program. Voluntarily fitted for SCRAM bracelet to monitor her sobriety.
• July 24, 2007: Arrested for second DUI. Charges include: Felony possession of cocaine, misdemeanor DUI and driving with a suspended license.
• August 2007: Pleads guilty to misdemeanor cocaine use and driving under the influence and was sentenced to one day imprisonment and 10 days' community service.
• November 15, 2007: Served 84 minutes in jail. The probation was extended by an additional year in October 2009, following several instances in which Lohan failed to attend the court-ordered substance abuse treatment classes.
• May 2010: Lohan did not appear for a scheduled DUI progress report hearing.
• July 6, 2010: Probation revocation hearing. The judge determined that Lohan had violated the terms of her probation and sentenced her to 90 days in jail, starting July 20; in addition, the judge ordered Lohan to check into an inpatient rehab program for three months after her release from jail.
• September 24, 2010: Lohan's probation was revoked following a failed drug test. She spent part of the day in jail before being released on bail
• February 9, 2011: Lohan was charged with the theft of a necklace reported stolen from a jewelry store in January. 
• November 6, 2011: Lohan reports to jail. She is released within hours on Monday morning, November 7, 2011.

Obviously this previously adorable child actress, who once played in movies such as the Parent Trap, has traveled pretty far down the wrong path. So, now I must ask you all who read this...

WHY WOULD YOU TAKE HER ON AS A PR CLIENT?

Who would be crazy enough to think they could do anything for this poor women's career? Maybe, just maybe, the people who have taken her on think they will become famous if they are able to change her reputation. Well, I say good luck, cause you are going to need. You will need luck, or magic.

Surprisingly, the firm that is taking Mrs. Lohan on as a client is Rogers & Cowen. They are pretty big name when it comes to PR and the entertainment industry and have plenty of awards. However, I can't help but question if that will be enough experience to help this case. 

I am all for giving second chances and trying to get back to your job. But Lindsay has to be on like her fourth of fifth chance and then it is just getting ridiculous. You can not help someone who doesn't first help themselves.

So, go ahead and cancel interviews with people who won't ask the right questions. Go ahead and try and focus on her acting and her job and not her personal problems. Then watch that all back fire as the audience, who is not going to be fooled by what I feel is trying to fix a gaping wound with a band aid, remembers that this is still Lindsay Lohan they are watching and isn't she that crazy chic?

I don't care how much shy is paying, that is so not worth it.

Classy ankle bracelet Lindsay. I know I now want to buy the products she is promoting. Or maybe I'll just steal it. I'm getting mixed messages.

Well, I'm hoping of this train. Say goodbye to the hot mess express because it is leaving the station, and I have a feeling it's going to be heading for major crash in the near future.